Florida Grasshopper Sparrow
NOTE: BRING A PACKED LUNCH and WATER.
LOCATION: Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park, 33104 NW 192nd Ave, Okeechobee, FL
MEETING LOCATION: Please arrive by 8:15 am to begin birding by 8:30 a.m. We will meet in the parking lot adjacent to the payment kiosk. This is located just inside the park gate. There is a fee of $4 per vehicle. We will ask participants to consolidate cars at the parking lot to limit the number of cars in our caravan.
DIRECTIONS: From the Port St. Lucie area, take I-95 north to the Rt 68 (Orange Ave) exit, turn west onto Rt 68 and continue for 25 miles. Turn right onto US-441 N and continue for 1 mile. Turn left onto NW 240th St and continue for 13 miles. Turn right onto NW 192nd Ave and continue 5 miles to the park entrance. Travel time from the Orange Ave exit of I-95 is approximately 1 hour. Please allow adequate time from your location.
LEADER: Dr. Paul Gray is Science Coordinator for Audubon Florida’s Everglades Restoration Program. He is intimately familiar with Kissimmee Prairie, having worked there on efforts to save the Florida Grasshopper Sparrow.
DETAILS: This is going to be a very special field trip. This Preserve contains the largest remaining tract of Florida’s endemic dry prairie ecosystem. Also, freshwater marshes, swamps, and oak hammocks, among others, make this an incredibly diverse site. Resident birds include hawks, vultures, Wild Turkey, Crested Caracara, wading birds and many others. In addition, the Preserve is said to have more species of plant per acre than anywhere in the United States. And the views here are spectacular.
After meeting inside the entrance gate, we will caravan along the entrance road, stopping periodically for short walks onto the prairie. We will also take a short walk along the Seven Mile Slough and walk the hammock around the campgrounds checking for birds. Finally, we will eat lunch in the area adjacent to the park office. Remember to bring a packed lunch and drinks.
Restrooms are available at the park office. The park office is located 4 miles past the entrance gate. Please plan accordingly.
QUESTIONS: Contact Doris Brookens at 717-576-7876 or dorisbrookens@gmail.com.
There is a 2 step registration process. Please note that we are now using Eventbrite for field trip registrations.